Intensifying Depression puts South Tamil Nadu under watch

The Intensifying Depression currently lying off the coast of Sri Lanka / South Tamil Nadu has put parts of the state and South Kerala under the threat of heavy to very heavy rains over the course of next 24 to 36 hours. The Depression which grazed across the South coasts of Sri Lanka making a landfall near Hambantota port is now moving into the open waters of adjoining Comorin Sea on its way towards Arabian Sea.

Models are estimating the depression to intensify into a Deep Depression by morning today as it tracks Northwest moving along the coast of South TN / South Kerala over the next 24 hours or so. Some models expect further intensification once the system reaches the way Arabian Sea. With moderate wind shear and good Sea Surface Temperatures this possibility cannot be ruled out.

Rains have started picking up in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram & Thoothukudi districts since early in the morning. Coastal areas from Delta to Chennai also started getting on and off spells since evening yesterday as the low level winds have streamlined to Easterlies under the influence of the Depression.

As mentioned in our post yesterday the districts of KK, Tirunelveli possibly will receive widespread rains with heavy rains at many places while parts of Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi & Ramanathapuram could get heavy rains in one or two places over the next 24 hours. As the depression comes closer both the intensity of winds & Rains are expected to pick up with squally conditions expected to prevail over South TN and adjoining parts of South Kerala for whole of today.

As far as Chennai and coastal areas of North TN is concerned it could be a rainy day with spells of rains continuing on and off. At times it could be moderate to heavy as moisture incursion from the Depression pushes more rain bands into the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.